Magnetic gate valve



Oct. 18, 1966 P. NIXON 3,279,494

MAGNET I C GATE VALVE Original Filed April 18, 1960 ;3 INVENTOR PHILLIP NIXON ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,279,494 MAGNETIC GATE VALVE Phillip Nixon, 600 Glendale Drive, Glenview, Ill. Original application Apr. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 22,899, now Patent No. 3,136,332, dated June 9, 1964. Divided and this application Dec. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 330,092 4 Claims. (Cl. 137-416) This application is a division of my application Ser. No. 22,899, filed Apr. 18, 1960, now issued as US. Patent 3,136,332, and entitled Magnetic Gate Valve.

This invention relates to liquid controlling valves, and consists more particularly in new and useful improvements in a gate-type valve for use where swift opening and closing is desired and finds special application in connection with a fluid reservoir such as a water closet flush tank or similar unit requiring a float actuated valve.

Installations of this type and particularly water closets, are notoriously objectionable due to the noise transmitted through a piping system as the flush tank valve gradually closes under the influence of the float and is slowly pinched down by the rising float buoyancy. It is a primary object of this invention to provide a valve which overcomes this objectionable feature by the use of a magnet which causes the valve gate to remain in one position such as to permit the flow of water at full pressure until the buoyancy of the float, which is operatively connected to the valve, exerts sufiicient force to overcome the magnetic closure of the valve gate, whereupon the valve shifts position with a snap action under the force of the float or by manual selection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel float-controlled valve wherein a sliding gate is mounted in a valve housing provided with guide means to facilitate arcuate movement of the gate to and from open and closed positions, as for example in response to the pivotal movement of a float rod or other operating arm connected thereto.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a valve of the magnetic keeper type including resilient pivot means adjustable longitudinally of the operating arm or float rod to thereby make possible the adjustment of the pivot point thereof to insure optimum performance of the valve under the opposing forces of the float and magnet.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve gate member and associated fiow port of such configuration and array as to assure swift action and minimal travel in exposing and/ or closing the port. An additional object is to provide a gate member of novel geometry to present maximum magnetic coupling.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a View in side elevation showing the valve assembly and the float attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the valve shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the valve with the float arm shown in transverse section;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2, with the closure plate of the valve housing removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view taken on line 55 of FIG. 3, showing the interior of the closure plate;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 1 with the gate in closed position; and

3,279,494 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the invention.

In the drawings, 7 represents the valve body proper which consists of a housing 8 forming a valve chamber 9 which is closed by a removable cover plate 10 secured in place by suitable screws 11 passing through registering apertures 12 and 13 in the cover plate and housing respectively. The rear wall of the housing 8 is provided with an inlet port 14 which is preferably bounded by an externally threaded nipple 15 adapted to be connected to a liquid inlet pipe (not shown) by means of which the valve body may be supported in a selected position in a toilet flush tank or other vessel wherein the liquid level is to be controlled.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the cover plate 10 is provided at a point opposite the inlet port 14, with a discharge port 16 illustrated as being horizontally elongated and of substantially elliptical shape as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, to facilitate quick action of the valve gate 17 in opening and closing, as will later appear.

Within the chamber 9 the valve gate 17 is slid-ably posi ti-oned for movement to and from open and closed positions with respect to the discharge port 16, an arcuate path for gate 17 being defined an arcuate guide means which may comprise spaced arcuate guideways 18 and 19 formed in the end walls of the chamber 9' as best seen in FIG. 4.

The valve gate 17 consists of a flat body of suitable magnetic material interposed the inlet and outlet ports 14 and 16 respectively, and of a thickness to permit sliding movement in the chamber 9 to and from open and closed positions with respect to the discharge port 16, its longitudinal extremities slidably engaging the respective guideways 18 and 19 which not only retain the gate 17 in place in the chamber, but direct its path of travel. Preferably, the discharge port 16 is bounded by a gasket in the form of an O-ring 20 arranged :in the inner face of the closure plate 10 and protruding later-ally inwardly therefrom for sealing engagement with the adjacent face of the gate 17 when the latter is in closed position as shown in FIG. 6.

It is contemplated that the port 14 may be a substantial duplicate of port 16 with its O-ring seal 20. Thus, each of the ports 14 and 16 may he of a modified elliptical or tear-drop shape with radially diverging sides 16a and 16b, the major central axis thereof substantially parallelling the longitudinal axis of the operating lever 23 when the valve member 17 is positioned over the port 16. Likewise, the upper side 16a of the port 16 is in alignment with the leading edge 17a of the valve member 17 whereby the closing is progressive, swift, and with the shortest travel of the member 17 to seal the port with a snap action.

The housing 8 and closure plate 10 are formed of nonmagnetic material such as brass or plastic and in the upper portion of the chamber 9, there is mounted -a permanent magnet 21, positioned to exert a magnetic force which constantly urges the valve gate 17 to its uppermost or open position as shown in FIG. 4. This magnet is formed of Alnico and magnetized, and its pole pieces are formed of stainless steel to avoid rust and corrosion and are of a width corresponding to the thickness of the valve gate 17, so that the latter shields the ends of the pole pieces by direct contact when the valve is open. Opposing the magnetic coupling between magnet 21 and gate 17 is a float mechanism generally designated by the numeral 22, comprising a float rod 23, threaded at its inner end as at 24 to engage a complementary threaded opening in the adjacent end of the valve gate 17 and carrying at its outer extremity a conventional float ball 25. The float rod 23 is pivotally mounted with respect to the housing 8 'by means of an internally threaded sleeve 26, adapted to receive an externally threaded adaptor 27.

This adaptor is centrally apertured to receive the float rod 23, the central aperture 27a terminating at its opposite extremities in flaring mouths 28 to accommodate the pivotal movement of the float rod 23 about a pivot comprising a resilient O-ring 29 which surrounds the central opening 27a in the adaptor 27 in frictional engagement with the rod 23. It will also be seen from FIG. 4 that the end wall of the housing 8 adjacent the pivotsupporting sleeve 26 is provided with a flaring slot 30 to accommodate the swing movement of the rod 23 as it pivot-s within the O-ring 29.

To enable the longitudinal adjustment of the pivot adaptor 27 in the sleeve 26, the outer end of the adaptor is provided with a transverse slot 31 for receiving a suitable adjusting tool. Thus, by moving the adaptor 27 in- Wa'rdly or outwardly in the sleeve 26, the pivot provided by O-ring 29 can be shifted longitudinally of the rod 23, to thereby permit regulation of the opposing forces of the magnet 21 and the float mechanism 22 with respect to the valve gate 17 as will later appear.

If desired, a set screw 32 may be provided, as in the lower wall of the housing 8, to adjust the lower limit of movement of the gate 17, and in addition, may be used as a drain plug should it be necessary to flush the chamber 9. Also, it may be desirable to provide an internally threaded sleeve 33 on the outer face of the closure plate 10 around the discharge opening 16 for connection to a liquid conducting pipe leading to the bottom of the flush tank or the like (not shown).

As previously indicated, thi valve assembly is particularly adapted for use in connection with a water closet flush tank or similar vessel and is installed therein in the position shown in FIG. 1, with the Water inlet pipe (not shown) connected to the nipple 15. Normally, when the tank is at the proper liquid level, the float 25 is in its uppermost position shown in full lines, the buoyancy of the float maintaining the valve gate 17 in closed position with respect to the discharge port 16, in sealed engagement with the O-ring 20. Upon flushing the tank, the float ball 25 drops with the level of the liquid to the dotted line position in FIG. 1, sliding the valve gate 17 upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 4 where it is retained by the force of magnet 21. The strength of the magnet 21 is such as to hold the gate 17 in its uppermost or open position as the liquid level in the tank rises, despite the opposing force of the float mechanism 22, so that full flow of liquid from inlet port 14 continues through the valve until the liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level. At this point, the optimum buoyancy of the float ball 25 is available to overcome the magnetic coupling force of the magnet 21 and immediately snaps the valve gate 17 over the unique discharge port 16 with a swift, positive action instead of following the rising surface of the water, thus preventing the objectionable water noise caused by gradually pinching off the valve in conventional structures.

In this connection, it will be noted that due to the particular elongated contour of the discharge port 16 with its upper and lower edges substantially parallel with the iower'edge of the elongated gate 17 throughout the arcuate sliding movement of the latter, this snap action of the valve is facilitated. In other Words, there is no gradual closing of the port 16 as would be the case if said port were circular andthe gate 17 progressively cut across varying flow areas of the circular port.

The efiective relationship between the buoyancy of the float mechanism 22 and the magnetic force of the magnet 21 as previously explained, can be adjusted by varying the longitudinal position of the pivot adaptor 27 along the float rod 23.

Among the advantages of the valve assembly comprising this invention, is its simplicity and ease of assembly and disassembly. With the cover plate 10 removed as in FIG. 4, the magnet 21 can be easily installed in the chamber 9 and the gate 17, with the operating arm 23 removed, is simply placed in the chamber with a longitudinal extremities in engagement with the arcuate guide mean-s. With the gate in this position, the float rod 23 embraced by the pivot 29 in adaptor 27 is screwed into the end of the gate 17 as at 24. Thereafter, the adaptor 27 is screwed into the sleeve 26 to the proper position of O-ring pivot 29 to eifect the desired force relationship between the float ball 25 and the magnet 21. Thereafter, the closure plate 10 is installed on the housing 8 and the valve assembly is ready for installation in a liquid containing vessel.

It may also be noted that the valve gate 17 is never exposed to atmosphere during its operation audit-is thus protected from the accumulation of dirt and grit which would interfere with the complete sealing of the valve when closed.

A further means for avoiding contamination of the magnet by the possible accumulation of foreign matter in the valve housing, is illustrated in FIG. 7. Here it will be seen that the valve housing 8 is provided with an extension 34 which forms a magnet chamber 35, separated from the valve chamber 9 by a centrally apertured partition 36. In this form of the invention, the valve gate 17 has attached to its upper edge, a magnet rod 38 which projects through the central opening in the partition 36 and is embraced by an O-ring 37 preferably formed of Teflon. The upper end of the rod 38 carries a transverse plate 39 of magnetic material, arranged for operative engagement with the magnet 21 which is mounted in the upper end of the magnet chamber 35.

With this modified form of the invention, it will be apparent that no fluid is permitted to enter the magnet chamber 35, due to the partition 36 and the sealing engagement of the O-ring 37 with the rod 38. By using Teflon for the O-ring 37, a free sliding movement of the rod 38 is permitted while at the same time maintaining an adequate seal between the chambers 9 and 35. Otherwise, the operation of this modified form of valve is the same as that previously described.

It is also contemplated in connection with either form of the invention, that the valve gate 17 may be provided with a Teflon face on its side which engages the O-ring 20 bounding the discharge port 16. Such an arrangement is shown at 40 in FIG. 6, from which it is clear that the slippery plastic surface of the Teflon, While effectively sealing against the O-ring 20, will greatly facilitate the sliding movement of the valve gate to and from open and closed positions.

While I have shown and described this invention as applied to a water closet flush tank, it will be understood that many other adaptations are possible with equal effect.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A liquid level control valve comprising a housing,

a valve chamber in said housing, a magnet chamber, a partition separating said chambers, fluid inlet and outlet openings in said valve chamber, a valve seat bounding at least one of said openings, a valvegate slidable to and from open and closed positions with respect to said seat, a float rod pivotally mounted with respect to said housing with one portion extending into said valve chamber and secured at one end to said gate, a float carried by an exposed portion of said rod, responsive to the level of the liquid being controlled, to slide said gate to one of said positions, a magnet in said magnet chamber, a stem connected to said gate projecting through a sealed opening in said partition, and a magnetic bar insaid magnet chamber operatively connected to said stem, the mag:

netic force of said magnet acting on said barto bias said gate toward the other of said positions in opposition to 5 the buoyancy of said float, whereby, upon the drop of said liquid level, said gate is snapped by magnetic force to said other position and there maintained until said magnetic force is overcome by the buoyancy of said float, when said liquid has reached a predetermined level.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said valve chamber in said housing has spaced parallel side Walls and spaced co-extensive arcuate end walls, said valve gate being of a thickness of substantially coincide with the depth of said chamber between said spaced side walls, its longitudinal extremities having arcuate portions and terminating in sliding engagement With respective arcuate end walls.

3 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said float rod is mounted on means comprising a resilient ring embracing said float rod intermediate its ends, and is fixed to said housing for resiliently, pivotally supporting said float rod.

4. A liquid control valve comprising a housing, aligned ports in opposite Walls in said housing a valve seat bound- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,136,332 6/1964 Nixon "137-416 WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, ISADOR WEIL,

Examiners. D.- MATTHEWS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A LIQUID LEVEL CONTROL VALVE COMPRISING A HOUSING, A VALVE CHAMBER IN SAID HOUSING, A MAGNET CHAMBER, A PARTITION SEPARATING SAID CHAMBERS, FLUID INLET AND OUTLET OPENINGS IN SAID VALVE CHAMBER, A VALVE SEAT BOUNDING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID OPENINGS, A VALVE GATE SLIDABLE TO AND FROM OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID SEAT, A FLOAT ROD PIVOTALLY MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID HOUSING WITH ONE PORTION EXTENDING INTO SAID VALVE CHAMBER AND SECURED AT ONE END TO SAID GATE, A FLOAT CARRIED BY AN EXPOSED PORTION OF SAID ROD, RESPONSIVE TO THE LEVEL OF THE LIQUID BEING CONTROLLED, TO SLIDE SAID GATE TO ONE OF SAID POSITIONS, A MAGNET IN SAID MAGNET CHAMBER, A STEM CONNECTED TO SAID GATE PROJECTING THROUGH A SEALED OPENING IN SAID PARTITION, AND A MAGNETIC BAR IN SAID MAGNET CHAMBER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID STEM, THE MAGNETIC FORCE OF SAID MAGNET ACTING ON SAID BAR TO BIAS SAID GATE TOWARD THE OTHER OF SAID POSITIONS IN OPPOSITION TO THE BUOYANCY OF SAID FLOAT, WHEREBY, UPON THE DROP OF SAID LIQUID LEVEL, SAID GATE IS SNAPPED BY MAGNETIC FORCE TO SAID OTHER POSITION AND THERE MAINTAINED UNTIL SAID MAGNETIC FORCE IS OVERCOME BY THE BUOYANCY OF SAID FLOAT, WHEN SAID LIQUID HAS REACHED A PREDETERMINED LEVEL. 